Harry V. Peetris

The Honorable Harry V. Peetris, Presiding Judge of the Los Angeles Superior Court (Ret.), Dies at 94 Harry V. Peetris, had a distinguished 52 year judicial career serving on both the California State and Federal Courts. He was 94. In brief, upon graduating with honors from the University of Southern California with an undergraduate degree in Accounting, Judge Peetris began his life long quest for Justice as a Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent. For a five year period he served in the intelligence and counter intelligence section of the FBI during World War II. He continued to provide service to the FBI throughout his entire life. This extensive duration of time, including service performed in 2001 where he received a Certificate of Appreciation from the FBI for "EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST" , exactly fifty-five years after being on active duty. Judge Peetris also had a distinguished fifty-two year judicial career. He first served as a sitting judge for twenty-six years where he retired as the Presiding Judge of The Los Angeles County Superior Court; he then served as a private judge for twenty six more years. The judicial career of Judge Peetris inspired several television and movie productions including the 1980's action/drama television series Hardcastle and McCormick and the movie Erin Brockovich. He made rulings on environmental law that have reshaped the federal and insurance laws addressing superfund sites. In the later years, he worked pro-bono to help workers injured by environmental and radiation exposure. Judge Peetris is preceded in death by his loving wife of 53 years. Judge Peetris is survived by his son, Harry Peetris, II; daughter-in law, Tina Peetris; and two daughters, Marie and Vicky. A private memorial service will be held in his Honor. Judge Peetris maintained a lifelong dedication to Justice and the "Fight On" spirit of USC. He served as a member of USC's Medical Faculty as an Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, teaching the four-year psychiatric residence Forensic Psychiatry and Psychoanalysis. Judge Peetris died surrounded by his family and the heroic Doctors and Nurses of USC. The University of Southern California has established a fund in his Honor. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be sent to the Honorary Fund. In memory of The Honorable Harry V. Peetris, the family requests to support the Division of Cardiology Heart Failure Research Program at the Keck School of Medicine at USC. Please make donations payable to Keck School of Medicine of USC and mail to: Margi Kuhn; Keck School of Medicine of USC, 2011 North Soto Street, Suite 1340A; Los Angeles, CA 90032.